Rev Aminiasi Qalo

from Wendy from notes by Peceli,
Rev Aminiasi Qalo

The funeral of the late Rev Aminiasi was held this morning, September 10th at the Glenorchy Uniting Church in Hobart, Tasmania. Aminiasi worked diligently in the Methodist Church in Fiji, in the Papua New Guinea highlands at Mendi as a Bishop, and then in Australia in the Uniting Church. Aminiasi is from Komo, Kabara, Lau. He was born on 14th October 1936, and was educated at Namata District School, Tailevu, St Columba's Memorial School, the Davuilevu Bible School and Davuilevu
Theological College. He entered the Theological College in 1958 and here is a photo of the students around that time. Aminiasi's name included Volau, but perhaps the lad named Volau here is a different student. (Click on photo to see enlarged.)

Aminiasi was ordained on 16 July 1964 the year that the Fiji Methodist Church became a Conference. Aminiasi married a nurse Vasiti in 1962.

Aminiasi was appointed to Nausori in 1962-4, All Saints College, Savusavu in 1965 and his heart was set on becoming a missionary to Papua New Guinea. He worked there for many years in Mendi, Margarima, 1966-1878 and after going to Fuller Theological Seminary in 1979 -80 he returned to Papua New Guinea 1981-85. When Aminiasi came to Australia he was in Sydney, then Richmond Uniting Church, Melbourne, then in country Victoria.

In retirement Aminiasi and Vasiti lived in Hobart and Vasiti passed away there and then last week, Aminiasi. We honour Rev Aminiasi’s life of service to God and his compassion for people in varied communities and our thoughts are with their daughter Magareta and relatives at this time. Several people from the Melbourne Fiji community went to Hobart this week for the funeral, including Peceli who went with Sailosi Koto, Mere, and Leba.
This photo of Rev Aminiasi (left) with Inoke Nabulivou, Peceli Ratawa, and at the back Jovilisi Ragata and Paula Tekei, was taken at a Fijian Uniting Church Conference about ten years ago.